President leads tributes to former minister Mary O'Rourke

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to former Fianna Fáil TD and government minister Mary O'Rourke who has died, aged 87.

Ms O’Rourke was first elected to the Dáil in the Longford-Westmeath constituency in November 1982 and would go on to serve as Minister for Education, Health and Public Enterprise over the course of a political career spanning four decades.

She was deputy leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2002.

In a statement, President Higgins said she made a distinguished contribution to Irish political life and was dedicated to serving the public.

Ms O'Rourke was a TD for almost three decades, and held a variety of cabinet posts, the first as Minister for Education under Charlie Haughey in 1987, and then Minister for Health in 1991.

In 1997 then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern appointed her deputy leader of the party, and Minister for Public Enterprise.

As minister, she pushed the privatisation of Telecom Éireann.

A lot of people lost money and Ms O'Rourke subsequently lost her seat. Ms O'Rourke's husband, Enda, a retired businessman, died in 2001. They had two sons, Aengus and Feargal, and six grandchildren.

Before entering politics, Ms O'Rourke had worked as a teacher.

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She was quick to laugh - and to provoke one too - often at an adversary's expense. After leaving the Dáil in 2011, Ms O'Rourke continued to vigorously participate in public discourse, and published her memoir.

After Fianna Fáil's poor performance at the Dublin Bay South by-election in 2021, she warned that the party faced oblivion if it did not tackle the root causes of its vanishing popularity.

The foundations of her long career were a decade in local politics, and belonging to party royalty.

She came from the Lenihan political dynasty.

Her father, PJ Lenihan, was a TD for Longford-Westmeath, first under under Seán Lemass and then Jack Lynch.

PJ owned a sweeping 145-acre protected peninsula, Yewpoint, on the shores of Lough Ree.

She and her brother Brian Lenihan - a senior government minister and tánaiste - were the first siblings to serve in cabinet.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mary O'Rourke's son Feargal said his mother "taught us to respect everyone, to be honest, to work hard and study hard, to love our family".

My mum passed earlier this afternoon. To many she was a former teacher, politician, broadcaster, author but to myself and @CllrAengusOrour she was our mum. She loved us to bits ,taught us to respect everyone, to be honest , to work hard and study hard, to love our family. pic.twitter.com/1aWuEwLyhy
— Feargal O'Rourke (@FeargalORourke) October 3, 2024

'Shrewd and magnetic approach'

In his statement, President Higgins said: "Mary and so many members of her family - including her father PJ Lenihan, brothers Brian and Paddy, nephews Brian and Conor, and son Aengus - have made a distinguished contribution, and at the highest level, to Irish political life.

"Mary had a shrewd and magnetic approach to politics and politicians.

"The warmth of her personality was reflected in the wide appreciation held for Mary amongst both the public and her fellow members of the Oireachtas, and was respected in her continuing and wide-ranging engagement with so many parts of public life in the years following her political career.

"She will be much missed by many both in her native Athlone and beyond," the president added.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin also paid tribute saying Mary O'Rourke was a remarkable woman who left a lasting impact on Irish society.

"Her distinguished career as Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil, Minister for Education, Minister for Health, Minister for Public Enterprise was marked by her intelligence, versatility, and unwavering dedication.

"As Minister for Education she championed reform during challenging fiscal times, always supporting a liberal and holistic approach," Mr Martin said in a statement.

"It was a privilege to serve with her in cabinet from 1997-2002, where I witnessed first-hand her intelligence, leadership, and deep commitment to public service.

"Beyond her political achievements, Mary was a commanding and engaging figure - an insightful observer of both political life and societal trends.

"Her wit and keen sense of the country, both in its present state and future potential, made her a cherished colleague and friend," he added.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport James Lawless also paid tribute to Ms O'Rourke.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime he said she served the people of Westmeath, her family and Fianna Fáil "with great distinction".

"I remember even as a child following her on the radio and she was always formidable, always strong-minded, always articulate, and always made her mark," he said.

A 'friend' and 'political ally'

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern who served alongside Ms O'Rourke in cabinet described her as a "political ally", a "great worker" and a "hard working constituency person".

Speaking to RTÉ's Six One news, he said: "There was few tougher than Mary, she was able to handle the best."

He said Ms O'Rourke achieved a huge amount in her political career and she was a great colleague.

"Everyone called her 'mammy' [of the house], most of them were afraid to say it to her face, but she knew what they called her.

"She was tough, you know the old phrase 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going' and if there was a battle in the house, across the house, if it was boards and somebody was going to throw the rocks, well Mary could throw them, but if someone threw them, you could expect to get them back. She was sharp."

Books of condolences to open

A book of condolence is to be set up at the Civic Centre in Mary O'Rourke's home town of Athlone from tomorrow, whilst another will be made available to the public at the Civic Building in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Mayor of Athlone Cllr Frankie Keena said he had known Ms O'Rourke since the early 1980s, extending his condolences to her family.

"Her love was politics," he said, recalling the long queues outside the former minister's house at weekends when she carried out her constituency work.

"Mary said try and always do the best you can for people," he said, adding everyone was very grateful for the work she had done for Athlone, including bringing the Department of Education to the town in March 1990, when 200 officials transferred there.

Former councillor John Butler said she had done a lot for people, even working behind the scenes to help families get the help they needed, including housing.

President leads tributes following death of minister Mary O'Rourke

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